Trio of large loans puts Wells Fargo far ahead of its Manatee competitors

Wells Fargo was way out front of the pack in terms of lending in Manatee County in September.

The bank made 59 loans totaling $30 million, including three of the largest: a $10 million loan to Weekley Homes; an $8.3 million loan to Gettel Automotive; and a $2.2 million loan to Esda Inc., a Myakka City company managed by Jerry and Karen Dakin.

JPMorgan Chase was No. 2 on the list. Its largest loan was a $1 million loan to Albert J. Graf.

But the biggest surprise in September was Bradenton’s own First America Bank. It came in at No. 4 thanks to a $4.53 million loan to Brian and Rebecca Turner, the owners of Utopia Farms in Palmetto.